Latest News | Pokemon Sword and Shield

This section is consistently updated with the latest news about Pokemon Sword and Shield. Check back for details about the The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra DLC, and all other news.

Latest News

September 17: New Chance for a Shiny!

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Availability Period
Start	September 17th, 2020 (Thurs.) 5:00 p.m. PDT
End	September 20th, 2020 (Sun.) 4:59 p.m. PDT

Don't miss this extremely short Max Raid Event appearing for the Seasonal Equinox! The Moon Stone evolvees Clefable, Wigglytuff, and Musharna and the Sun Stone evolvees Bellossom, Whimsicott, and Lilligant will appear throughout the Wild Area and Isle of Armor.

This event features a high chance of Shiny Clefable appearing, so Shiny hunters, get your Ultra Balls stocked and ready!

September 17 to September 20, 2020 Max Raid Event
Moon Stone Pokemon
Clefable	Wigglytuff	Musharna
Sun Stone Pokemon
Bellossom	Whimsicott	Lilligant

List of Max Raid Events

September 1: Shimmering Electric and Grass Types Abound

Availability Period
September 1st, 2020 (Sat.) - September 30th, 2020 (Sun.) 24:00 UTC

From September 1 to September 30, Electric-type and Grass-type Pokemon are more likely to appear in Max Raid Dens. After checking the Wild Area News, you'll be able to find a variety of Pokemon in Dens across the Wild Area.

Players with Pokemon Sword also have a chance to encounter Gigantamax Appletun and Gigantamax Toxtricity (Low Key Form).

Players with Pokemon Shield will have a chance to encounter Gigantamax Flapple and Gigantamax Toxtricity (Amped Form).

List of Max Raid Events

Augusut 31: Ranked Battle Series 6 Begins!

Starting on August 31, all the Series 6 ruleset has come into official use for Ranked Battle. Over 16 top ranking Pokemon will be excluded from Ranked Battle. Check out our full article to learn more!

Ranked Battle Series 6 | Rules and Legal Pokemon

August 23: Competitive Porygon2 Giveaway

From August 23 to August 31, a competitive Porygon2 is available to download via Mystery Gift! Don't miss the chance to get this battle-ready Pokemon built for Trick Room Teams!

How to Get Mystery Gifts and List of Codes

August 6: Pikachu Mass Appearance!

From August 6 to August 9, there is an increased chance to encounter the entire Pikachu family in the Wild Area's dens. Apart from a chance to get a shiny Pikachu, you have a chance to get an Alolan Raichu - a Pokemon you can't find outside of Pokemon HOME or as a one-time present in the Isle of Armor!

Mimikyu also has a chance to appear as part of the event!

List of Max Raid Events

August 1: A Surge of Water and Ground Types Appear!

From August 1 to August 30, Water-type and Ground-type Pokemon are more likely to appear in Max Raid Dens. After checking the Wild Area News, you'll be able to find a variety of Pokemon in Dens across the Wild Area, with Gigantamax Drednaw and Gigantamax Sandaconda making appearances as well.

List of Max Raid Events

July 7th: Pokemon Sword and Shield Upgraded to Version 1.2.1!

The latest update for the game is available as a free patch! This update fixes an issue in the Y-Comm where trainers were being mismatched to the wrong Link Code. Hopefully we've received some quality of life improvements with the Y-Comm as well.

To download the update, simply go to the Home menu on your switch, hit the + button while the Pokemon Sword/Shield icon is selected, and choose Software Update > Via the Internet.

You'll need to have your Nintendo Switch connected to the Internet, but a Nintendo Online subscription is not required.

Patch Notes for Version 1.2.1

Ver. 1.2.1 (Released July 7, 2020) A bug in regards to the number of digits for password settings has been fixed. In regards to the passwords that can be set for Y-Comm and Max Raid Battles, we fixed the bug where players could be matched with others whose passwords were not coinciding. Other updated content We fixed several other issues to improve game play experience. Source: Nintendo of America

Older News

Ranked Battle Series 5 has begun!

Itching to use your new Isle of Armor Pokemon in the big leagues? The wait is over! All Isle of Armor Pokemon, including Urshifu and its Gigantamax forms, are now legal for Ranked Battle!

Before you start, check out our new Best Builds for each of the new Pokemon, and our detailed explanation of the revised ruleset!

Movesets & Best Builds for Isle of Armor Pokemon
Scizor	Kingdra	Magnezone
Volcarona	Chansey	Blissey
Talonflame	Azumarill	Galarian Slowbro
Porygon2	Urshifu Single-Strike Style	Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style
Slowbro	Alolan Marowak	Dragalge
Klefki	Lycanroc	Amoonguss
Poliwrath	Palossand	Mienshao
Starmie	Heracross	Comfey

Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion have also been made available, but can currently only be obtained via Pokemon HOME or trading with other players.

Newly Legal Pokemon via Pokemon HOME
Terrakion	Cobalion	Virizion

Ranked Battle Rules and Legal Pokemon

Collect Your Free Zeraora!

Event Period (Year 2020)	June 30, 2020 (Tues.) 3:00 PM UTC - July 6, 2020 (Tues) 11:59 PM UTC
Requirements	Move Pokemon between Pokemon HOME and Pokemon Sword or Shield between June 30 and July 6, 2020.

Because more than a million players defeated Zeraora in Max Raid Battles during its event, all players, even those who did not defeat Zeraora, can receive a free Shiny Zeraora!

To receive and transfer your Zeraora to Pokemon Sword or Shield, you'll need to download both the mobile and Switch versions of Pokemon HOME, though no subscriptions are required. Learn how to complete the process easily in our full guide!

How to Get the Zeraora Mystery Gift

Steel & Rock Types Rising from the Earth!

Availability Period
June 30th, 2020 (Tues.) - July 31st, 2020 (Fri.) 24:00 UTC

Starting on Tuesday, June 30th, Steel-type and Rock-type Pokemon are more likely to appear in Max Raid Dens. After checking the Wild Area News, you'll be able to find a variety of Pokemon in Dens across the Wild Area, with Gigantamax Coalossal and Gigantamax Copperajah making appearances as well.

List of Max Raid Events

Galar Starters available with Hidden Abilities!

The Galar Starter Pokemon, Rillaboom, Cinderace, and Sobble, are available for the first time with new Hidden Abilities, available for free in the mobile version of Pokemon HOME. This will unlock a world of new potential for these Pokemon, so be sure to grab them before it's too late!
How to Get & Transfer Hidden Ability Starters from Pokemon HOME

Also, check out our new Best Builds for each of their fully-evolved forms to learn how to use 'em once you got 'em!

Galar Starters - Hidden Ability Builds
Cinderace Libero Build	Rillaboom Grassy Surge Build	Inteleon Sniper Build

Gigantamax Festival!

Dates of the Festival
June 1nd, 2020 (Mon.) - June 29th, 2020 @4:59 PM PDT (Mon.)

In preparation for the release of The Isle of Armor on June 17th, the first half of the Expansion Pass DLC, Pokemon Sword and Shield are playing host to the biggest appearance of Gigantamax Pokemon ever! Read our full article for a list of all available Pokemon and what games they can be found in.

List of Max Raid Events

The Isle of Armor Release Date Confirmed for June 17th

At 10:00 PM JST on June 2nd, 2020, the release date for The Isle of Armor was confirmed for June 17th, 2020. Together with its release, we got a huge reveal of new Pokemon, Moves, Abilities and more for both parts of the Expansion Pass! Check out all updates to the game in our full articles below!

The Isle of Armor - All New Info

The Crown Tundra - All New Info

Gigantamax Pikachu, Eevee and Meowth

Pokemon's mascots are coming to Max Raid Battles in Gigantamax form! These Gigantamax Pokemon were previously available only under exclusive circumstances, and are all appearing for the first time in raid battles. Don't miss your chance to obtain these cuties!

Pokemon	Dates Appearing
Gigantamax Pikachu	May 11, 2020 – May 18, 2020
Gigantamax Eevee	May 18, 2020 – May 25, 2020
Gigantamax Meowth	May 25, 2020 – June 2, 2020

See All Max Raid Events

New Information About The Isle of Armor from Nintendo Direct Mini!

• A dojo has been added!
• Evolution conditions for Kubfu via Towers of Two Fists have been explained!
• More information about Starter Pokemon's Gigantamax forms and G-Max moves!

The Isle of Armor

Kanto and Alola Starters Join Ranked Battle

On Sunday, March 1st, 2020, Series 3 of Ranked Battle begins! With the Kanto and Alola Starters now legal for all play, the metagame is in for a shakeup. Find out how to use and counter the new fighters with our guides below!

Kanto & Alola Starters
Primarina	Incineroar	Blastoise
Decidueye	Venusaur

Kanto and Alola Regional Forms In Ranked Battle

Together with the newly legal Starter Pokemon, all Kanto and Alola regional forms available via Pokemon HOME became simultaneously legal for use in Ranked Battle.

Regional Forms
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales

The New Mythical Pokemon, Zarude, Has Been Discovered

The Rogue Monkey Pokemon has been discovered in the Galar region.

See the page on Zarude, the Dark/Grass-type Pokemon to debut in the new Pokemon the Movie: Coco, set to release in Japan on July 2020. Read on for the latest information, behavior, and characteristics predictions!
Zarude - How to Get and Release Date

Pokemon HOME brings new Pokemon, Moves and Abilities to the table

They say old is the new new! Pokemon HOME has opened the floodgates of Pokemon, Moves and Abilities from previous games, and players are already watching to see how the Ranked Battle metagame will change. Take a peek to see which strategies will be newly available to players.
New Pokemon, Abilities, and Moves available through Pokemon HOME

Pokemon Home Now Available on Nintendo Switch

As of February 1st, 2020, Pokemon HOME is now available from the Nintendo eShop. Learn how to connect up to receive a free Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle and Pikachu and transfer Pokemon from Let's Go, Eevee!, Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokemon Bank.
How to Download Pokemon HOME and Transfer Pokemon

New Gigantamax Pokemon Released – Gigantamax Toxtricity!

He's big, he's bad, he's Punk Rock. Amped Form and Low-Key Form are both represented in the new Gigantamax form of Toxtricity! Check out our article to find out what Dens to find Gigantamax Toxtricity, and learn about its G-Max Move, G-Max Stun Shock!!

Gigantamax Toxtricity and Den Location

Star and Ribbon Sweets Released!

From January 31 to February 17, 2020, new Sweets to create 18 new forms for Alcremie were available in-game.

How to Get Star and Ribbon Sweets

New DLC Announced – The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra

All About The Expansion Pass DLC	List of All Pokemon Appearing in the DLC
The Isle of Armor Released June 17th, 2020	The Crown Tundra Coming Fall 2020

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